PRESIDENT AKUFO-Addo has assured Ghanaians that the Komenda Sugar Factory will become operational before the end of this year.
He stated he would want to commission the factory to create employment for the teeming youth after accusing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of failing to revive the factory.
Speaking during a tour of the factory in the Central Region, President Akufo-Addo said, “The factory has been on my heart. Great works are going on here. The commissioning will come in a little while.”
Former Director General of the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA), Stephen Asamoah Boateng, disclosed that work on the factory was 95 per cent complete.
He noted that plans were in place to ensure that raw materials are made available to feed the factory.
He explained that the factory had transformed into an ultra-modern one, with new state-of-the-art machines.
“These are very new machines. These are not the old ones we are continuing with… I am very happy that the NPP government led by Nana Akufo-Addo promised to deliver, and he has done it,” he said.
Elmina Fishing Harbour
The President also, on Saturday, inspected ongoing work on the construction of the Elmina Fishing Harbour.
The 30-month project commenced on August 1, 2020 following the cutting of the sod by President Akufo-Addo.
The Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, said the project was 91 per cent complete, following the completion of the construction of the south breakwater, the north breakwater, sheet-piling, dredging, scour and ploughing, and reclamation works.
He revealed that, currently, civil related infrastructure works including buildings, pavement works, roads and storm water constructions are ongoing and will be completed on schedule.
The Elmina Fishing Port Rehabilitation and Expansion Project aims at constructing adequate facilities, berthing space and creating a deep marine access to ensure the durability of the Elmina Harbour.
Furthermore, the project will strengthen Elmina’s position on the fishing and salt industries and place the city at the heart of the cultural ambitions of the Akufo-Addo Government, making Elmina one of the most dynamic coastal cities in Ghana.
In all, the project will, first, see to upgrading existing facilities such as the administration building, the slipways, workshop, and the maintenance dredging of the existing port.
It will also include the construction of a new fishing harbour, with a main breakwater and a quay wall to enable larger fishing vessels to safely moor and offload, a dedicated access road to the port, and a warehouse for storage.
Other new works include the construction of an additional administrative building; a shed for the fish market; a shed for fishing net mending; two cold stores/ ice factories; a new slipway for bigger vessels with a boat refurbishment area; a toilet block; and a day care centre.
The project will also provide beach and coastal protection works, as well as restoration of the area in front of the Elmina Castle, to enhance tourism.
BY Vincent Kubi